Shoe Party History Part 4...

If you live in Bellingham, WA you know that there have been positive efforts toward encouraging a thriving downtown center that locals and tourists can enjoy. Everything from great restaurants and shopping to art walks and farmers markets contribute to a bustling downtown.  There is a group called the DownTown Renaissance Committee that raises funds and coordinates local events playing an active role in the growth and beautification of downtown Bellingham.  

A few years back, the DownTown Renaissance Committee put on a Murder Mystery Masquerade Ball and Auction and asked local businesses to donate items for the event...

When they came to Hilton's Shoes, where I worked at the time, I was inspired to offer an after-hours shoe party instead of the expected/typical gift certificate donation.  I worked this out with the Joe Hilton, the store owner, and prepared to show the highest bidder and their two best friends a shoe party like no other...complete with champagne and catered finger foods, a waiter at their beckon call, and a shoe store all to themselves.    

The Shoe Party fetched some great bids and the winner contacted me right away to arrange a date for the party.  I could hear the excitement in her voice when she confessed that she couldn't wait to try on tons of shoes with her gal pals at the private party.  I let her know that I planned to pamper, entertain, and inspire their soles.

The night had arrived and I had arranged our most comfortable chairs facing the wall of shoes, near the full length mirror, so my party gals could use it to admire the shoes as they pranced around with their champagne.  We just had a blast! I sprinkled shoe trivia into our conversations and never let them lace buckle, velcro, zip or slide on their own shoes.  This was a full service shoe party...all they had to do was put their feet on the fitting stool and I would adorn them with shoes both practical and fabulous.  We all reveled in being women who loved shoes and laughed heartily when one party gal rolled her eyes back in ecstacy over a pair of shoes that had never felt more comfortable..."pinch me I must be dreaming.."she exclaimed.  

At the end of the evening there were hugs all around and happy soles.

Of course I wanted to throw more shoe parties and it turned out that the next one involved taking the shoe show on the road to a friend/shoe-stomer in need...

cheers, abigail dagmar